Ybor among 7 sites for national tattoo experiment

It is likely to be unusually raucous for a Wednesday night on 7th Avenue, as 102 people will be getting a free tattoo as part of a promotional event from Sailor Jerry Rum.

Tampa’s Ybor City was chosen as a location for the event because of the city’s history. The free tattoo event was piloted at the South by Southwest festival this year

“It won’t feel contrived in Ybor City,” said Paul Monahan, Sailor Jerry’s national brand ambassador of the decision to host an event locally. “This kind of event will be very organic there.”

Ybor City is one of seven sites chosen by the liquor company for the event, which marks the passing 40 years ago of tattoo emissary Norman Collins, who went by the name Sailor Jerry and from whom the brand got its name.

“It is a great strip of history there. It is an easy fit for us,” Monahan said.

Starting at 7 p.m., people who want a free tattoo from one of three Ybor tattoo shops — 1603 Tattoo, Old 7th Avenue Tattoo and Blue Devil Tattoo, all on Seventh Avenue — will head for the shop and throw a dart at a board with one of five traditional Norman Collins tattoo designs on it and “let fate decide their destiny,” Monahan said.

The promotion also includes, expectedly, rum drink specials at three Ybor City bars on 7th Avenue: The Bricks, The Green Iguana Ybor and Reservoir Bar.

Neither the man nor the rum have a direct link to Ybor City or Tampa Bay, but the company recognizes Florida as one of its hottest markets and found Ybor to be the perfect spot for the complimentary tattoo event. It runs from 7 p.m. to midnight. The five designs include an anchor, a swallow, a cherry, a shark and a star.